Netflix on Friday, 20 March, announced it is establishing a $100 million relief fund for workers affected by the halt of film and television productions in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. “This community has supported Netflix through the good times, and we want to help them through these hard times, especially while governments are still figuring out what economic support they will provide,” Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief creative officer, said in a statement.
The majority of the fund will be used to support the crews of suspended Netflix productions around the world, and will be in addition to the two weeks of pay that the company previously agreed to pay workers affected by the shutdown.
According to The Hollywood Reported, over 1,20,000 jobs have been lost by members of IATSE, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees that represents cinematographers, editors, production designers and others.
Sarandos added that in an effort to support the broader film and television industry, $15 million of the Netflix fund will be distributed to “third parties and nonprofits providing emergency relief to out-of-work crew and cast in the countries where we (Netflix) have a large production base.”
In the US and Canada, Netflix said it will donate $1 million each to the SAG-AFTRA Covid-19 Disaster Fund, the Motion Picture and Television Fund and the Actors Fund Emergency Assistance in the United States, and $1 million between the Fondation des Artistes and the AFC, formerly known as the Actors’ Fund of Canada.
Sarandos said that Netflix is also coordinating with organisations to provide funding for similar relief efforts in Europe, Latin America and Asia.
“What’s happening is unprecedented,” he said. “We are only as strong as the people we work with and Netflix is fortunate to be able to help those hardest hit in our industry through this challenging time.”
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